So the first month of the new is up and it honestly wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. Normally, January drags, but I think because I injected so much newness into my routine it made it far more enjoyable.
Talking of newness, I’m going to shake up my monthly recap post. They’ve been following the same format or a could have years and I fancy a change, as well as the usual stuff now they will include my favourite products from the month, favourite OOTD and my monthly goals. So quite a bumper post hopefully full of lots of good stuff at the end of each month.
What I Got up to in Jan
I didn’t make it to through the ballot for the London Marathon this year, but I made it one of my goals to run a half marathon and signed up to run the Reading Half Marathon. April seems so far away, but I know that the months are going to whizz by (like always!) so I’ve laced up my trainers and been on a few runs, hoping to take it more seriously from next month.
Talking of fitness, I’ve also joined a new fitness class that I can actually do with Aiden, Pushchair Fitness! It’s an outdoor class and is very much weather dependent, but I love it and has been a great way to meet other mamas and get fit at the same time. I think it’s really given me that extra push and motivation to ease myself out of my fitness rut and I’m feeling better for it.
One of my big goals for 2016 is invest in myself and I’ve really put the wheels in motion starting with my photography course and I’m due to start a nutritionist course next month. Both are really great courses, learning how to use my DSLR camera properly will hopefully improve my photography on the blog and nutrition is such a big focus in my life and I can’t wait to learn more in-depth about it.
If you haven’t read this book then do! A great start to my one book a month reading goal this year and I’m feeling very inspired. I just love Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat.Pray.Love is a favourite of mine and now this is on the list too.
Super exciting! At the start of the year, my article for the Mail on Sunday supplement was published. Always such a surreal feeling seeing your name and work in print. I was so chuffed with the way it came out.
Favourite OOTD
Not really an outfit as such, more of an item of clothing. My huge tartan blanket scarf from Zara is fab – it literally goes with anything! I love wearing it to bundle up when it’s freezing cold outside.
Favourite Reads From Around The Web
- Does This Mirror Make Me Look Fat? Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Body Image – totally LOVE this!
- How To Tune Into Your Body
- 10 Ultimate Foods To Boost Your Immunity
- Eating Healthy When You’re Short on Time – my top tips over on The Olive Fox!
- 25 of the Most Irritating Things About Pregnancy – yep I can relate to some of these.
- How to Change Your Life, Even If You’re Terrified To Do It
- 15 Ways To Invest In Yourself This Year – make yourself a priority in 2016!
- 7 Life-changing Morning Rituals
- 4 Ways to Nurture Your Happiness By Destressing Your Life – a great collection of articles encouraging us all to slow down.
- 3 Inspiring Reasons To Exercise – That Aren’t Related To Your Weight
Favourite Products of the Month
Neals Yard Skincare Kit
Absolutely love this! I wanted to change-up my skin care in the new year had looked at this brand for a while. Initially, I bought the starter kit for my skin type but have since invested in the full sizes.
Pure Maple
Really good quality product and I’ve loved pouring it over my favourite waffles at the weekend.
Easy Leggings With Print
I love bright patterned leggings and this pair from Wellicious that I was kindly sent are amazing. Perfect to jazz up my fitness wardrobe now that I’m training for a half marathon.
Monthly Goals for February
Isn’t it great when the first day of a new month starts on a Monday, it makes goal setting seem far more official!
I did pretty well with January’s goals, however, I didn’t quite get round to tackling my blog housekeeping list, which seems to only get longer, not shorter.
- Launch Project YOU! – more details will be coming soon, but for now, you can sign up here!
- Read another book – Gala Darling’s latest is next on my list.
- Complete my blog housekeeping to-do list
- Officially start half marathon training
- Continue to budget and save
- Make plans for my 30th birthday next month – eeek!
Well, that’s my month in review and it wasn’t half bad! I hope you all had a wonderful month and looking forward to what February has in store for you.
Those leggings! Love love love.
I’m glad I managed to get away last month – definitely balanced out some of the British weather! I also feel like I achieved quite a lot work wise, so hoping to keep up the motivation into Feb!
Congrats on the Mail article – my parents will have read it (the hard part is getting them to follow the advice ?)
Your break away looked amazing – it’s always nice to get away to some sunshine, makes such a difference!
Wow it looks like you achieved quite a bit in January. I feel like January was a bit of a practice month for me, but I’m hoping to continue with my 5k training and healthy eating this month – thanks for sharing x
Good luck with your 5K training and healthy eating! 🙂
A big thumbs up to all your fitness stuff. And god luck with the half marathon in April. Tx
Thanks for the encouragement Tracey! 🙂
Oh, I was offered a London marathon space (which I didn’t want) and they let me offer it round to others, but no-one wanted it 🙁 I put out a couple of tweets about it, but you must have missed it.
Oh, what shame! Totally missed that tweet! 🙁
Sounds like a good month for trying new things! I love starting the year out trying something new, I think it just sets up everything to be a bit more exciting!
Definitely! It always helps to try something new to shake up the old routine.
I am still working on getting out of my fitness rut. My cheat days have been exceeding my clean eating days.
I have got to do better!
It’s a new month with new motivation in mind.
Take each day as it comes and make little changes each day and you will get there. It’s all about finding that balance that works for you.
Congrats on on being published- so awesome! On a side note I’m loving those leggings!
Ha, thanks – I love them too!
Those leggings are fab!
The buggy fitness is such a good idea- someone near me runs a “moving mums” class and I think it’s so good to encourage parent to get some fresh air and be active.
I think it’s a brilliant idea – it can be so hard to exercise with a baby! Plus, being outdoors is lovely, but I can’t wait for the summer! 🙂
It looks like you had a great January! My fitness went out of the window last month due to an injury, but I am more hopeful about this month, especially as we are getting closer to Spring! Yippee!!!
Oh no! I hope your injury get better soon. I’m excited about spring too..bring in the sunshine! 🙂
How exciting about the new courses. I thought about doing a nutrition course a few years ago but for the time being, I’m focused on other things all the while still taking a massive interest in nutrition. Maybe one day though!!
Good luck with the half marathon, I have a hell of a lot of respect for you!! I love your gorgeous Zara scarf too, big blanket scarves are my absolute favourite. I bought a new jacket the other week but don’t have a scarf to ‘go’ with it – oh diddums, what a problem….! Might have to treat myself 😉
She’s So Lucy
Yay for the Reading Half!! I’ve done it twice before and really enjoyed it. OK Reading isn’t exactly the most scenic of places but the crowds and the atmosphere is fantastic. There’s so much support on the route – and going under the bridge where the Samba band (or steel drum band, one of the two!) play is always brilliant. And finishing in the stadium is a HUGE lift. Good luck with your training!!
Learning how to use my DSLR camera properly is a goal for me too in 2016.